Minnesota Governor and Democrat Vice Presidential nominee, Tim Walz, recently argued that the United States Navy should use algae as a sustainable energy solution to tackle climate change. He believes that this move will not only reduce carbon emissions but also improve military resilience. During a debate with his then-opponent Republican Jim Hagedorn in Winona, Minnesota, Walz emphasized that climate change is a pressing concern and should be addressed urgently.
Walz highlighted the growing recognition of climate change as a significant risk to not only the environment but also national security. He claimed that the Pentagon sees this issue as a multifaceted threat, with implications for both the climate and national security. The Department of Defense has taken steps to address this by working on creating the Great Green Fleet, which aims to power the Navy using algae-based fuels.
In addition to supporting clean energy solutions like algae-based fuels for the military, Walz has consistently advocated for radical climate change initiatives such as a carbon-free electric grid by 2040. However, critics argue that prioritizing long-term environmental goals over immediate threats to national security and energy needs will lead to higher costs and reliability concerns in energy infrastructure.
Daniel Turner, executive director of Power the Future, dismissed Walz’s stance as being too focused on climate change at the expense of genuine military preparedness. Climate Depot founder Marc Morano criticized the Pentagon’s focus on climate change under the current administration, accusing them of prioritizing environmental virtue signaling over actual military readiness.
The Biden-Harris administration has made addressing climate change a central pillar of its policy agenda, with the Department of Defense (DOD) playing a significant role in implementing these measures. In 2022, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued a climate directive that required the Army to integrate climate considerations into its strategic planning, resulting in a 50-page plan focused on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Vice President Kamala Harris recently stated that her values regarding climate policy have not changed and that she continues to believe that the climate crisis is an urgent matter requiring immediate attention. She also admitted that the Inflation Reduction Act was primarily a green energy spending bill, which experts argue did not address inflation. Republican Vice Presidential nominee Sen. JD Vance described Walz as someone who wants to make the American people more reliant on “garbage energy” instead of good American energy sources.
Joshua Klein is a reporter for Breitbart News, and he can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @JoshuaKlein.